NORFOLK, Va. - Old Dominion University women's soccer opens the 2013 regular season Friday, Aug. 23 against LaSalle, plays its first Conference USA regular season game at Marshall, Sept. 27 and hosts East Carolina on Oct. 4 in the C-USA home opener.

"We're excited about the schedule, the conference aspect is an unknown but we're very much looking forward to it," ODU Head Coach Joe Pereira said. "It will be demanding, it's new, but very exciting."

The Lady Monarchs open the season at the JMU Tournament and take on LaSalle to open the year on Friday and face Richmond on Sunday.

ODU follows the tournament with a road contest at Liberty on Aug. 30 before hosting Radford in the home opener on Sept. 1.

The short home stand continues against George Washington on Sept. 6 before taking on George Mason in Fairfax on Sept. 14 and wrapping up the non-conference schedule in Norfolk against Penn on Sept. 22.

Old Dominion will face eight opponents that they have never faced before, but Pereira and the Lady Monarchs are embracing the opportunity.

"It's a good thing, we'll have a young team, we like the position we are in. We think we have a great chance to compete immediately in the conference," Pereira said. "I'm sure by the time we get down to it there will be no surprises. It is all new and exciting."

The Lady Monarchs' first ever Conference USA slate starts at Marshall and Florida International on Sept. 27 and 29, respectively, before coming home to host East Carolina in the C-USA home opener Oct. 4. ODU rounds out the weekend on Oct. 6 against Texas-San Antonio before traveling to Florida Atlantic for a Sept. 13 showdown against the Owls.

ODU returns home on Sept. 18 to take on fellow C-USA newcomer, Middle Tennessee State and on Sept. 20 hosts UAB.

The Lady Monarchs complete their road portion of the schedule at Rice and Southern Mississippi on Oct. 25 and 27, respectively, before hosting Charlotte in the regular season finale on Nov. 1.